Blisters: Handheld equipment, when it rubs against the skin, can cause the upper layer of skin to separate from a lower layer. As our bodies try to defend against the situation, fluid builds up in the gap. While the fluid is a serum intended to heal the skin, when athletes continue to practice and play, the blisters break leaving the unprotected skin open to infection. While athletes can’t let a little thing like a blister get in the way of a competition, complications from infection are no joke. Keeping skin moisturized allows it to be more flexible but how do you moisturize skin without making it slick or greasy? COMPEL Moisturizing Skin Cleanser, applied before practices and games, protects and moisturizes skin even through the toughest competitions. If blisters develop, gently apply COMPEL to the injured skin to avoid infection and quickly return it to normal without popping it. Popping blisters only raises the risk of infection. If a blister pops on its own, apply COMPEL to the skin flap and the skin around the injured area then cover with a bandage or gauze.
Pressure Burns: Skin vs. ______ Fill in the blank. Artificial turf, sand, asphalt, concrete, you name it, your skin comes out on the losing end. Mat burn, rug burn, road rash, raspberries…unprotected skin can be scraped off or literally burnt off from the friction of contact with a harder surface. Use a clean cloth or non-stick gauze pad dampened with COMPEL and gently wipe the pressure burn (cut, scratch, or scrape) to cleanse it. If the skin is in no condition to wipe down, spray COMPEL onto the scrape or rash. If it burns for a few seconds, it’s working to cleanse the area. Trust me, the threat of infection is more painful.
Calluses: Another way our body attempts to protect skin from repeated friction and pressure is by forming multiple layers of skin that harden into calluses. When calluses are “properly maintained,” they can actually protect the soft, sensitive areas on our hands and feet. After practices and games, calluses should be soaked in warm, soapy water. Apply COMPEL to soften and moisturize for hours. Resist picking at the callus. Like blisters, the danger of infection is increased if a callus is peeled off and exposes the vulnerable skin beneath.
Athlete’s Foot: Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal infection. Apply COMPEL either by spraying or rubbing it thoroughly onto the affected area. Do this three times each day for three to five days. Fungal spores spread quickly and easily and can live (happily) on shoes and clothing for days (or longer). This infection is highly contagious, so it’s important to apply COMPEL as soon as your skin feels the least bit itchy. Skin cleansed with COMPEL may appear slightly reddened before clearing up. Apply COMPEL daily, especially after showering, to keep skin moisturized and protected from the threat of infection.
Poison Ivy (and other itchy rashes): Whether you’re running your mileage in the woods or your golf ball (somehow) ends up beyond the rough, chances are you’re going to come into contact with a plant that will irritate your skin. Even well-maintained paths can be lined with poison ivy, oak, and sumac. They contain a chemical called urushiol that causes an allergic reaction when it comes into contact with skin. Symptoms include itching, redness, bumps, and blisters. COMPEL can remove the oil and relieve the itch. Apply before and after possible exposure to urushiol.
Let’s go, spring sports! Whether it’s a meet or a game, compete with the clean confidence of COMPEL!
]]>It was that very reason a friend of mine grabbed COMPEL. A baby skunk had sprayed her directly in the face and out of desperation, she blindly grabbed the bottle, pumped some out and wiped it onto her face. She and her husband were amazed. He tells me that it took 99% of the smell away immediately and that they’d never seen (smelled) anything like it! Musk is made up of cells that, like oil, has a lipid layer that the ingredients in COMPEL are able to break down. This is the same way bacterial and viral cells are disabled. I shouldn’t have been surprised because I understand the science but it still floors me.
Then there are the times our pets leave us stinky gifts. We’re house-training a puppy and while she knows she’s supposed to do her business outside, she still forgets to ring the bell or let us know that she needs to go outside. After picking up the “accident,” (It wasn’t an accident. She pooped right where she was aimin’.), I spray COMPEL Safeguard on the vinyl floor and wipe with a paper towel. If it’s urine or if she went on the rug, I pick or soak up as much as possible then spray with COMPEL and use a gentle bottle brush to scrub the product into the fibers without damaging them. Blot with a paper towel or air dry. COMPEL removes the odor and is fragrance-free, so when it dries, there won’t be the chemical smell or flowery attempt to mask the stench that other products leave.
So whether your pet has rolled in something dead, gifted you its latest catch, or just got caught out in the rain, grab a bottle of COMPEL Armor or Assure. Pump or spray it onto your hands and wipe it into their fur and onto their skin. Keep it away from their eyes (it’ll burn) and nose (makes them sneeze). If there’s no way you’re putting your hands on whatever that funk is, spray COMPEL onto the source of the stench and let it sit there for a few minutes. You can put COMPEL into a sprayer and “hose” down the reeking animal. It works like a dry or wet shampoo so you can either let it sit on the stench and work its magic or pour a ½ cup into a tub of water and give your stinky baby a b-a-t-h.
]]>I’m sure I felt anxious from time to time, especially when attending a new school which, for me, happened seven times before eighth grade. But recently, in addition to all the normal back-to-school worries like, “What if I miss the bus?” or “Who will I sit with at lunch?,” there is anxiety about our threats to our health and to our sense of well-being. You can’t even Google “anxiety” without encountering hundreds of articles about COVID-19.
I found one article that shares ways for parents to deal with common back-to-school concerns. These suggestions are valid whether your child is heading preschool or college. You can read the full article at https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/coping-with-back-to-school-anxiety/, but I’ll highlight some the steps below.
1. Take care of the basics. Sleep, healthy (consistent) meals, and daily exercise are all subject to neglect when a situation is new or stressful. A routine is crucial and comforting to everyone involved.
I realize, even as I write, that this message, this topic, this bit of encouragement was for me! I really needed to “hear” it. Thank you very much, dear reader, for being the reason for the reminder. One of my goals as a parent is to be able to say this to my children:
“Whatever you have learned from me or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice.”
Philippians 4:9
Would you like one less thing to worry about? Our solution to clean confidence is COMPEL moisturizing skin cleanser. www.getcompel.com
]]>One thing comes to mind when I think of all of those things combined and it is exercise...specifically running. Jesus Dominguez said in LA Times "Cross-country is a running sport, but to some people it is not a sport. They think just because you don’t get hit or shoot a ball, you aren’t an athlete. Then there are people like me, who think cross-country is the hardest sport by far. Why? It takes everything you have to run" (https://highschool.latimes.com/la-river-school/why-cross-country-is-the-hardest-sport-around/). According to The Top 10s wrestling and cross country are the top two most exhausting high school sports. This implies basically that our runners are using and burning more energy than most and it is crucial this energy be replenished and maintained.
So how do we replenish energy? Well, rest and a proper diet are crucial but proper hydration is KEY. It is recommended that runners should try to drink one liter of water for every 1,000 cal you burn daily. (An average male burns around 2,500 cal a day, a runner covering five miles a day more like 3,000 cal.) Proper hydration can avoid overheating, weakness, fatigue, etc. As mentioned in previous blogs maintaining hydration is just as important and COMPEL can play a huge role in helping runners protect and maintain their skin barrier that keeps water inside of the cell. Compel also functions to help runners cool their skin after runs to avoid sudden heat exhaustion. With the recent increase in heat temperature this summer, keep your runners protected and prepared with COMEPL. Try yours at www.compel.com.
]]>Chances are at one point or another you have dabbled in the game of soccer. In the US, over 3 million kids participate in soccer every year with that number on the rise (usyouthsoccer.org). Usually, soccer is the first sport that parents choose to put their kids in. When my mom put me in soccer for the first time she was unaware of all of the other factors that now play into her life and mine. She was soon introduced to injury, infection, sacrifice of time, and so much more. Even health risks associated with contact sports like soccer, are no reason to keep your kid from making lifelong memories and potentially developing a new passion.
Good News
Yes, it's easy to hear about health risks and immediately want to put your (shin) guard up... haha. But the good news is that there are simple solutions.
Sweat can buildup around your shin guard area, and socks. After practices and games, taking proper care of the shin guards and socks can easily protect your skin from risk of infection or other skin vulnerabilities. Using COMPEL on your shin guards will keep them sanitary for multiple hours after application.
Washing your practice clothes, uniform, socks, etc. with your normal detergent plus a quarter cup of COMPEL after games and practices will eliminate the odor and remove germs that may be hiding within the fabric.
Better News
If you or your player are already too familiar with skin infection, heat rashes, ringworm, athlete's foot, etc, it's not too late! You can apply COMPEL directly to the skin to begin healing the natural skin barrier so it is better prepared to guard against infection.
Try COMPEL out today and live out your soccer mom (or player) GOALS!!
]]>The Stats
Every summer throughout the U.S. there are 600 deaths as a result from heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Alongside that there are 28,000 hospitalizations correlated with a heat illness. Bottom line... the heat is no joke. Staying hydrated is one thing, but maintaining hydration is another.
Our Skin
Whenever we sweat we are losing body fluids to try to cool down and return the body back to its original temperature. Unfortunately, if you are not properly hydrated, your body eventually runs out of places to take water from and has no way of cooling down. This may result in heat rash, exhaustion, stroke, etc.
So how does moisturizing and COMPEL play into all of this? The outermost layer of your skin, called the stratum corneum, is made of dead skin cells called corneocytes, stacked like bricks. Fats called lipids act like mortar. This cellular "brick wall" helps to keep the moisture locked inside your cells. The trouble is that the moisture-locking system doesn't always work as well as it should. Skin can get dehydrated if the cells underneath the barrier lose too much water. When the water content inside the cells decreases, the cells become shriveled. As a result, The skin may look dull, lose its luster, and fine wrinkles can be more noticeable. When heat is brought into the equation we also begin to see rashes and other skin irregularities. COMPEL works to maintain and protect that barrier by keeping the water inside the cell. It can do this with its ingredients such as humectant which pulls water from the air to keep the cells hydrated and emollients which add softness to the skin. So staying hydrated is actually a two step battle. Getting hydrated and maintaining hydration through moisturization. By adding COMPEL into your summer regimine you can take measures to avoid heat induced skin infection, or irregularities so that you don't become one of the 28,000. Try yours today!!
]]>Just the Facts
Camps all over the US report outbreaks yearly of skin infections such as impetigo, ringworm, swimmer's itch, etc. This can leave campers uncomfortable and at high risk to infect other children, in most cases sending them home early.
Athletic Camps
Now taking what we know about regular camps, think about athletic camps but just up the octave a bit... or a lot. One website says, "Myriad dermatoses can affect athletes. One of the most common cutaneous manifestations of athletic activity are skin infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi.Many infections are contagious and may have serious ramifications for team practices and competitions. Knowledge of these infections facilitates implementation of rapid treatment and preventive measures to ensure the least disruption in daily team activities." Staphylococcal infection is the most common, but streptococcal infection is also common.Both organisms may present as various clinical disorders, such as impetigo, erysipelas, folliculitis,and furunculosis. These bacterial infections occur in athletes participating in sports in which close personal contact occurs, including rugby, judo, and wrestling.Furunculosis outbreaks, however, have been noted also in football and basketball athletes. One study showed that 25% of high school athletes in these sports developed furunculosis. On the viral side of these herpes is a commonly transmitted infection among athletes. In a study of 1 wrestling camp, 34% of participants were infected with herpes simplex. On the fungal side, tinea corporis shows up frequently as well. The frequency with which tinea corporis affects wrestling teams was found to range from 24% to 77% and varied with the methodology of each study. Clearly the evidence supports the claim. Athletic camps while beneficial for athletes could potentially cause more harm than benefit if proper measures are not taken.
The Solution
Gladly, we aren't just left with these statistics and hoping your camper is one of the lucky ones who comes home clean. This is where COMPEL comes into play. integrating COMPEL into you hygiene routine while in season or during camp will providing another level of defense for your camper. COMPEL works to effectively fight off these specific diseases and heal those already infected. Applying COMPEL during showers, after workouts, and/or in you morning or night routines will allow your skin to resist creating the environments needed to breed these atrocious bacteria/ viruses all while moisturising and hydrating the skin which as we know is crucial for everyone especially athletes. If I knew about COMPEL during my sports camp days I would've used it in a heartbeat, truly. Try it for your camper, or maybe yourself too!
]]>I take a gallon of COMPEL Safeguard or COMPEL Armor*and pour it into a handheld .5-gallon pump sprayer, setting the nozzle to a fine mist. That way, I minimize the amount of product I use and it’s faster and easier to go from one task to the next.
Tables and chairs:
We have a metal and tile table that was covered with dust, grime, and thanks to the lovely pine trees, pollen. I wet a microfiber cloth, sprayed the table with COMPEL Safeguard and wiped it down. Look, if you’re the kind of person that doesn’t want your microfiber cloth to get dirty, just use a wet paper towel the first pass. Then spray COMPEL and wipe with the cloth. Safeguard cuts through the grime and leaves your table sanitary for days. Bonus: it will also make surfaces fingerprint resistant and easier to clean the next time!
As for the chairs, they are metal with a plastic mesh seat. Apparently, they are the perfect perch and potty for birds. I spray the chair (both mesh and metal) with COMPEL and use a wet microfiber cloth to wipe it down. COMPEL leaves even the bird poop places sanitary for days.
Painted surfaces and wicker can be cleaned with COMPEL. Just follow the above instructions.
Cushions, Rugs, and Umbrellas:
These things get unbelievably disgusting. Moisture, mold, mildew, bacteria… Wet the fabric with water, then spray down with COMPEL. Using a brush (soft bristles so you don’t harm the fabric) or cloth, scrub the surface paying careful attention to seams, folds, and creases. With rugs, be sure to scrub along the threads rather that across them. Fully extend the umbrella and lay cushions/rug out to air dry, flipping them until they are completely dry before retracting the umbrella or placing the rug on the deck/patio or cushions on chairs, chaise lounge chairs, ottomans, etc. COMPEL dries quickly, but drying time will depend upon the amount of water used to wet the cushions.
Grill:
Maybe your grill-person takes the time to clean up thoroughly after every meal. Or maybe, like my grill-person, you’re lucky if they scrape the grates with a wire brush between meats! Regardless, grills are messy and greasy. Grease is not a problem for COMPEL! Make sure your grill is cool (not like, built in with a warming rack, steamer, and seven-color waterfall cool but more like, not hot-to-the-touch cool.)!
Do NOT use COMPEL on hot surfaces or near open flames!! Spray COMPEL onto weather-exposed surfaces, then scrub using a water-wet brush (soft bristles) or microfiber cloth. For tough grease spots, it may take a couple applications. Remove the grate, (let me emphasize- cool grate), spray COMPEL and scrub with a wire brush or scrubbing sponge then rinse. Repeat as necessary, always rinsing as your last step. Do NOT spray COMPEL onto charcoal, burners or around gas (propane) outlets. To clean (cool) burners, spray COMPEL onto a wet cloth and wipe, making sure burners are dry before using. Keep the lid off or hood open and well ventilated. Do NOT spray COMPEL into enclosed areas. If you can’t be trusted to be smart around fire (or heating elements), skip cleaning the grill, please!
Wood and composite decking:
Mold, mildew, and moss/algae thrive in wood fiber. Treated wood tends to deter growth, but deck boards, even composite decks, can become grimy or take on a greenish color. A power washer can remove the stuff, but you run the risk of damaging the surface of the deck. If you want to simply clean the surfaces, spray a section of the deck with water. (We’re doing this in sections so that when you apply COMPEL, it doesn’t dry out before you get to it.) Spray COMPEL and let it rest on the surface for five (5) minutes. Scrub with brush or stiff broom going with the grain of the wood or composite. Don’t scrub too hard and damage the surface! Rinse with water. If the grime doesn’t come off completely, rinse and repeat.
Concrete and brick:
These sturdy materials don’t break down in the presence of mold and mildew, but they can still harbor dirt and grime where moss and fungus can grow, causing unsightly stains. Wet the concrete or brick with water. Spray COMPEL and let it rest on the surface for five (5) minutes. Scrub with brush or stiff broom. Rinse with water. Repeat if necessary.
Vinyl siding:
Do not wash your siding in direct sunlight. The soap can dry before you’ve rinsed it, leaving a film or worse, causing it to fade. Our home has vinyl siding and we generally have trouble with the shady sides. Mold and mildew tend to grow in patches in these damp places. Test a small section first of your siding with COMPEL first. If there’s no residue or fading, wet the siding with water then spray COMPEL in small sections (again, if it dries before you’re able to scrub it, you’ll have to start all over!). Scrub with a brush or cloth. For hard-to-reach areas, put a cloth on the bristle end of a broom to scrub.
Water Toys and Floats:
Do NOT allow COMPEL to mix with chlorine or bleach!! You’ll end up with a bright orange/brown stain. Start with a dry surface (test to make sure there’s no chlorine residue). Wet the toy or a cloth with water, then spray the toy with COMPEL and wipe down. It should remove dirt and grime. Scrub a little harder to remove stubborn stains.
Playsets:
Whether wood, metal, rubber, or plastic, COMPEL gets your playground kid-ready in no time! Spray with water, then with COMPEL. Use a wet brush or scrubbing sponge to remove mold, mildew, dirt and grime. Rinse well. Make sure you don’t allow COMPEL to dry before you have a chance to wipe it down or it might be sticky. NOT the kind of surface you want for the slide!
Glass and Decorative Stone:
Spray with COMPEL. Using a wet (with water) microfiber cloth, wipe down the glass. Buff with a dry microfiber cloth until the glass is streak-free. Do the same for stone that has a smooth, shiny surface like granite or marble. Test a small spot to make sure it won’t damage the finish. For stone with a natural surface, like limestone, spray with water, then COMPEL, then wipe, scrub, or sweep with a broom.
I’m sure you have something you need to clean that I haven’t covered. Always try a sample spot when cleaning with COMPEL and make sure to use it with water. Not only does it distribute the product more easily, it stretches that dollar a little bit further. Have a great summer!
*The difference between Safeguard and Armor is simply that Armor has more surfactants or is “soapier.” It will suds up more (great for laundry), but you run the risk of leaving a film on objects that are not well-rinsed. If there is a film, simply wash it off with a wet cloth or rinse with water. Both clean surfaces equally well.
]]>Whether glamping or roughing it, there are essentials to keep in mind:
Enjoying the outdoors is a dirty job. That’s one of the reasons we enjoy it. While not a clean freak, I am keenly aware of the unseen bits of nature that I pick up and haul out whether I’m tent camping or taking a hike. Instead of feeling frustrated or overwhelmed, hit the easy button by grabbing some COMPEL and have a great time on your adventure!
]]>Say that quote out loud. Now try it with a British accent. Now a British accent with a couple marbles in your mouth.* Why? Because this is a Julia Child quote, of course, you ninny!
Many of us gaze at success with this dreamy, someday look in our eyes like it’s something that is granted, reserved for the elite, or stumbled upon. Truth is, success is more like a (very small) nugget of gold that only comes into focus because you’re face-down in the muck you’ve created by chasing it. But first, the definition! I’m not going to quote Webster or Dictionary.com as I so love to do. This is your chance. If you’re reading the digital version, copy the following down on paper and fill it in yourself.
Success [suhk-ses]
noun
1
2
3
Create as many definitions as you’d like. Unfortunately, I cannot do it for you. If you went directly to the dictionary to complete the task, I have more unfortunate news. The words, synonyms, alternatives, and examples in a sentence cannot possibly encompass your version of success. Before you jump on social media, looking to all the people you follow and their interpretation of what success looks like (filter and all), let me save you just a little heartache and a lot of time-suck. Even those crowned successful by society cannot (must not) define success for you. With the “easy way out” removed, let’s get face-down in the muck together.
Ingredients
Every good recipe (and even the bad ones) starts with ingredients. Muck can be made up of a lot of stuff, so there is a variety from which to choose. Please just understand that it’s no “one ingredient” that creates that nugget any more than a “Life in Three Easy Steps” self-help book. Once again, you determine the ingredients. Maybe your ingredients look a little like mine…
A teaspoon of grit (Because I got out of bed today.)
A half-cup of perseverance (Because I made my bed again though it clearly should be making itself by now)
A pinch of self-control (Because I refrained from cursing an inanimate object)
Four cups of grace (Because I did curse an animate object)
Muck consists of the things we want in our recipe as well as the things we don’t but I’d be willing to bet that my nuggets of success are full of the “don’t wants.” I’m not saying that two wrongs make a right. I’m saying that a lot of hard experiences can add up to a little wisdom. And wisdom isn’t so much an ingredient as a chemical reaction, the combination of mistake, learning, and application. “Oops!, Ohhh (ding!), and Ah-ha!” The good news is (after all those “unfortunatelys”), wisdom can be granted, bestowed, and reserved for those who simply ask. God really enjoys handing out chemical reactions. I can tell by the way He smiles at my “Ah-has!”
Your ingredients are whatever you have on hand: instances of laughter, tears, frustrations, victories, secrets, public humiliations, and simple pleasures. List them here:
1
2
3
4
There will be more than four.
Directions
Give a small can of Play Doh to each child in a class of preschoolers and ask them to make a circle. If they haven’t been influenced by what their parents, teacher, or peers believe a perfect circle looks like, the renditions are fascinating and diverse. One child efficiently slices the can-shaped cylinder into several circles. Another rolls the entire lump of clay into a rope then forms a round shape. Still another painstakingly presses the edges of the cylinder and uses their palms to mold a seamless sphere while another is satisfied with a sketchy oval. The child at the next table wonders why they have to make a stupid circle, slams the clay on the table smashing it with the can, and suddenly recognizes the imprint of a circle. Then you have the child that watches their peers for most of the class, looks back at their unopened can and thinks, “That is a circle.”
If you’ve done any cooking, you know that the directions- the order, the manner, the timing- is very important, very specific, and determined by some other Fount of Knowledge. The Play Doh analogy applies when you, yes you, decide how you follow them. You may combine the ingredients in such a way that is efficient, creative, perfectionistic, half-a**ed, angry, or complacent. The only common factor is time. Some recipes require less time than others, but there is no such thing as a “no-bake” success. In my experience, some of my directions read,
Bake at 400 degrees for 4 years, then broil for 18 months. Let cool for 479 days before serving.
Or worse,
Combine ingredients, kneed for ten months, and rest for another 8,760 hours, or until firm.
The waiting portion of the directions is generally the most difficult for me. Like I tell our kids “It’s not easy but it’s worth it.” The good news?
Your directions are specifically designed to forge the nugget out of the muck.
More good news: You are the one who decides there is a nugget in all that muck. You get to call the creation a success- not your family or your friends or your boss or your coach, not even Julia Child.
It isn’t going to look like the circle of the preschooler sitting next to you. Or what’s in your neighbor’s driveway (or barn where I’m from). Or the achievement of that person you follow on Instagram.
It is amazingly, beautifully, your success. And you get to create as many as you want.
Here’s the surprising part of the recipe, as if three different analogies in one blog isn’t enough.**
Your recipe’s serving size? One.
If that one is yourself, eat up. Success is gone before you know it and is not at all satisfying. Keep that nugget for yourself and the accumulation only weighs you down.
If that one is God, the Maker of the Directions, that success will serve generations and the nugget surrendered to Him is used to make your crown.
I’ll quote Julia again. “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” That could be considered a success. Or how about King Solomon? He found a few nuggets. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.” Proverbs 2:6-7
Do we need to revisit our definitions?
As a bonus, I’ve compiled a few recipe highlights/post captions for you!
Appreciate the ingredients.
Trust the directions.
Enjoy the muck.
Relish the nugget.
Serve the One.
What are you going to call the cookbook? Compilation of Combinations. Daily Dish. How about “Life”?
*Not literally. This author and her affiliates do not encourage nor condone such foolish behavior. For illustration purposes only. Do not try the marble thing at home.
**The cooking/recipe analogy, the nugget in the muck analogy, and the Play Doh analogy, though that applied more to one section rather than the entire theme. Still, I counted three.
Is it just me, or have you noticed that, even though I use reputable detergents and even bleach at times, there is still the potential for bacteria and mold to grow? I can see red slime in the cracks and crevices of the rubber seal and even on the glass of my front-loading washer. Mold and mildew grow around the edge of the drum, and feeds on the overflow of detergent and softener in the dispenser.
If my washing machine can become so dirty, how can I possibly expect my clothes to be clean?
TRUTH: Detergents do not disinfect articles, not even clothing laundered in a washing machine.
By disinfect, I mean detergents do not remove harmful bacterial and fungal microbes. A study posted on the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health revealed that “The number of living bacteria was generally not lower in the WM [washing machine] effluent water as compared to the influent water.” The detergent and laundering process may be removing the dirt, but not the bacteria or fungi. This means the water going out of the washer has as much live bacteria as the water coming into the washer, so the “wash” isn’t killing the bacteria.
Even with the use of detergent, clothing can “cross-contaminate.”
“Accordingly, malodour-causing microbial species might be further distributed to other clothes. The bacteria on the ingoing textiles contributed for a large part to the microbiome found in the textiles after laundering.” That is why your clothes may end up smelling like your son’s football funk. Oh, I know, you don’t wash your clothes with the funk clothes anymore. Well, that’s why! We all want to look like athletes, not smell like them.
Household washing machines provide an ideal location for bacteria and biofilms that contain pathogens to thrive.
The researchers found that, “The laundering process caused a microbial exchange of influent water bacteria, skin-, and clothes-related bacteria and biofilm-related bacteria” in the washing machine. The even scarier fact is that “A variety of biofilm-producing bacteria were enriched in the effluent after laundering.” Biofilm is a microbe’s defense system. Microbes that can produce biofilm very difficult to remove. Think dental plaque and pond scum. The report finds that “biofilms are shown to harbor many possible human pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, sometimes even considerably more than toilets.” That is serious stuff. And I was just worried about my clothes smelling like wet dog!
Researchers noted that more eco-friendly detergents and lower water temperature settings are contributing factors in for the survival of bacterial and cross-contamination. They acknowledge that modern washing machines contain a lot of plastic parts that also encourage bacterial communities. Washing machine manufacturers often suggest a monthly high temperature wash along with a bleaching agent. Bleach, however, will not solve the issue of the infected areas outside the drum because it only kills bacteria if it comes into direct contact with the surface for at least four minutes (according to manufacturers). Also, we have more to contend with than bacteria. Biofilms can be produced by other microorganisms like fungi and protists.
TRUTH: There is a simple way to clean your clothes and your washer!
Clothing funk: I spray clothing with COMPEL before washing. Not only does it take care of the odor-causing bacteria, but it also removes the deodorant that gets caked on my husband’s t-shirts, and those hard-to-clean grease spots. COMPEL is clear, no added dyes or scents. The scent-free is nice because you can tell the stink is really gone, not just covered up, and it doesn’t compete with your scented detergent or softener or dryer sheets. COMPEL is safe to use on all fabrics and won’t cause colors to fade. Nevertheless, I must tell you to test a small sample of the fabric before going all in!
Full load funk: If your entire load is questionable, pour a small amount of COMPEL in with your liquid detergent (liquid only). This cleans not just your clothes but also your washer drum.
Biofilm: I spray the gunk with COMPEL, let it infiltrate the bacterial defense system, then wipe with a paper towel so I can throw it away. It takes a few wipes to completely remove the film, (If you still see color, it is still there!), but once thoroughly removed, there is less likelihood it will return anytime soon.
Mold/mildew: Spray COMPEL on a paper towel or disposable cloth until the cloth is wet. Press wet towel or cloth onto the mold and let it sit for a few seconds then wipe it off. Make sure to clean it thoroughly with COMPEL so that it is not allowed to regrow. Avoid spraying the mold directly so that you don’t end up dispersing the spores. COMPEL will not damage the plastic, glass, rubber, nor metal parts of the washer.
Of COMPEL’s ingredients, ethyl alcohol kills bacteria, chlorhexidine takes care of bacteria and fungus, and Lauramine oxide is a surfactant, essentially, creating the ultimate laundering trifecta. Be confident your clothes are clean with COMPEL! www.getcompel.com
]]>By this point in the blog, many of you are checking out or disappointed that you have learned nothing new. Hang in there for just a few more minutes because you might be as surprised as I was about the truth about bleach.
Bleach does not kill fungi and requires several minutes to kill bacteria and viruses. Let that sink in for a moment. Are you questioning everything you’ve learned about cleaning and disinfecting? Or are you wondering why that even matters? Consider the following:
Bleach does not kill mold and mildew. Spraying bleach on mold spreads mold spores. When a bleach solution is sprayed onto mold, it kills the root system releasing microscopic spores into the air and dispersing them, resulting in more fungal colonies. Why does mold seem to disappear when sprayed with bleach? The root system is what carries the color of the mold. The color is “bleached out” when the root system is damaged.
Bleach products must use wording like “remove” mold because it doesn’t “kill” it. Spraying a bleach solution on mold can make colonization of mold easier. Some symptoms of the most common types of mold can cause:
A bleach solution must stay wet on the surface for 5 to 10 minutes to be effective against bacteria and viruses. The length of wet contact required depends upon the concentration of bleach. Even the strongest bleach product offered by one of the most popular brand on the market requires a wet, standing contact time of six (6) minutes. To disinfect or eliminate the percentage of germs that the product claims, directions state that you must pre-wash a surface before allowing the bleach solution to stand for several minutes, then rinse well.
Wipes are often bleach-free, depending upon quaternary ammonium compounds to disinfect and sanitize. These products still must remain wet for four (4) minutes and are intended for use on hard, non-porous surfaces. They pose hazards to humans and domestic animals and skin should be washed thoroughly with soap and water after contact. A study found on Infectious Disease Advisor found that spores of the dangerous C difficile bacteria were retained in the wipe then dispersed over large surface areas. This is called cross-contamination. Wipes also dry out upon use making it impossible to follow directions that require wet contact of at least four minutes.
https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/topics/infections/disinfectant-wipes-transfer-clostridioides-difficile-from-contaminated-surfaces/
Are you shocked? Are you ambivalent? When I learned the truth, I was frustrated. Good thing I don’t like reporting an issue unless I have a solution!
COMPEL is safe and effective for both skin and surfaces. COMPEL sanitizes, disinfects, and protects both skin and surfaces. COMPEL is scientifically proven to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and fungi on both skin and surfaces. For true clean, get COMPEL at www.getcompel.com
]]>While conducting all that research, I discovered something about antiseptic and cosmetic skin products that is often overlooked: The pH level. pH stands for potential (or power of) hydrogen in an aqueous solution and ranges on a scale of 1 to 14. On the scale, 1-6 is acidic and 8-14 is alkaline or basic. Seven is considered neutral. The skin’s ideal pH is slightly acidic or between 4.5 and 5.5. This acidity helps the skin to combat free radicals that lead to aging along with dangerous microbes that can cause infection.
The products we use on our skin, such as detergents and cosmetics, the environment, such as air pollution and sun exposure, even antibacterial cleansers like soaps and hand sanitizers have a notable impact on the skin’s pH level. While most of us aren’t going to keep those paper strips handy to test throughout the day, there are some signs that may be observed to be about to guess what your skin is trying to tell you. With balanced pH levels, skin is soft and moisturized. If pH begins to become more alkaline, you’ll notice redness, irritation, dry spots and acne.
You can visit a dermatologist for specific pH level concerns. For maintaining balanced pH on your own, dermatologists recommend the following:
We pay close attention to COMPEL’s pH levels due of the impact on our skin. At a 6 on the scale, the slight acidity of COMPEL helps skin to fight dangerous microbes and free radicals while moisturizers keep skin from drying out. The care we’ve taken translates over to surfaces as well, making it safe to apply to even sensitive textiles like vinyl and leather.
Rest assured that as we formulated COMPEL, we dotted all the i’s, crossed all the t’s and even capitalized all the h’s to make sure our solution is as safe as it is effective.
]]>David and Sarah are a fantastic couple-super busy with businesses, raising young children, and heavily involved in the wrestling community. They were impressed by the results and hesitantly hopeful. That’s when Sarah shared their current regimen for when someone in the family had ringworm that topical treatment just couldn’t kick. “Ethan* has started to avoid taking the medicine because he knows he’ll have to do a blood draw and he hates needles.” I asked for clarification. “Well,” she explained, “it’s an oral medication that the doctor prescribes, but the side effects require liver panels to make sure function hasn’t decreased. It is good at preventing ringworm while we’re taking it, but when we finish the course, it comes right back. Then the kids just spread it back and forth.” She added that the oral antifungal prescription was in addition to the topical cream that they apply in an effort to get rid of the stubborn skin infection. I was quietly scribbling down every word, trying to capture the frustration and exasperation in her voice.
Let me make something very clear: This family is strong. David and Sarah aren’t the type to ask for help and are always the first to step up before anyone even asks for volunteers. They are generous and serve wholeheartedly no matter the impact upon their already tight schedule. Sarah wasn’t complaining. She was simply describing the only option for keeping her kids healthy and her family involved in wrestling.
I began to research treatment options for chronic ringworm, folliculitis, and impetigo. It is not a topic blossoming with hope.
”…antifungal therapy is often fraught with numerous clinical challenges including high relapse rates and recurrences.” Perspect Clin Res (picronline.org)
“The estimated yearly direct health care costs of fungal diseases exceed $7.2 billion.” Public Awareness of Invasive Fungal Diseases — United States, 2019 | MMWR (cdc.gov)
“It is generally thought that antibiotic therapy is suppressive in nature, and frequent recurrences are noted after antibiotic therapy is discontinued. Topical medicines are considered ineffective.” Folliculitis, Gram-Negative - Dermatology Advisor
“Antifungal drugs treat fungal infections by killing or stopping the growth of dangerous fungi in the body. Fungi, like bacteria, can develop antibiotic resistance, when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. Antifungal resistance occurs when fungi no longer respond to antifungal drugs.” Antifungal Resistance | Fungal Diseases | CDC
As if COVID-19 hasn’t wreaked enough havoc, enter the fungal co-infection.
“People with severe COVID-19, such as those in an intensive care unit (ICU), are particularly vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections. The most common fungal infections in patients with COVID-19 include aspergillosis or invasive candidiasis.1–6 These fungal co-infections are reported with increasing frequency and can be associated with severe illness and death.1,3,4,7,8 Awareness of the possibility of fungal co-infection is essential to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment in order to help prevent severe illness and death from these infections.” Fungal Diseases and COVID-19 | CDC
I’ve been around medicine enough to know that big pharma has to diligently cover its butt, that is to say, cover all the bases where side-effects and complications are concerned. But the treatment of choice for a common type of folliculitis contracted in pools and hot tubs is alarming. This 20-week treatment requires monthly visits to the doctor and education about potential side effects including:
(females- monthly pregnancy tests and two forms of birth control required) risk of birth defects
risk of depression, suicide, IBS
laboratory monitoring of liver function
dry lips and skin, nosebleeds
joint pain, muscle aches, vision changes, headaches
Folliculitis, Gram-Negative - Dermatology Advisor
I had no idea the measures thousands of families, coaches and athletes take to treat a chronic yet preventable infection. Neither did I know how desperate the battle against fungus and antibiotic-resistant bacteria had become. At the beginning of every season, the newcomers are welcomed into the wrestling family with enthusiasm, support and the obligatory “about skin infections” talk. It’s almost as uncomfortable as a conversation about STDs as we watch shock register on the faces of the new, vulnerable parents when they hear the coach or the wrestling club president say, “That’s just the way it is. It’s going to happen. They’ll come home with something red or itchy. Just talk to another parent about it. We’ll figure it out.” They glance over at their 5-year-old who is rolling around on a wrestling mat trying to put a second grader into a headlock and wonder what they’ve signed up for.
There is hope. Simple hygiene effectively prevents the spread of MRSA. Understanding how fungal spores disperse and where they thrive is crucial information for families attempting to stop the spread of ringworm. When a family, team, or custodial service adds COMPEL to their cleaning protocols, the results are game-changing. COMPEL is proven to moisturize and maintain healthy skin for hours. When used on surfaces, COMPEL says, “Not today, fungi and bacteria!” for an entire week! Okay, maybe I’m the one saying that as I spray down the floors, mats, equipment and clothes. And if I’m really being candid(a), I sometimes say it out loud. Introduce COMPEL Germ Management to your fungal and bacterial battles and you can say it with me!
*Names have been changed for reasons of privacy.
Mom Fail
I am going to be open and vulnerable in this blog because skin infection has hit so close to home recently. It all began, as most skin infections do, with a simple wrestling practice. Both of our high-school-aged boys, Caden and Carson, wrestle, but Caden was out due to injury. Carson went through the normal drills with the team and ended up with a scratch on his chin. Later, I asked if he had applied COMPEL to his skin before and after practice. He said he had.
The next day, the scratch was a little red and he ended up with mat burn on his ear and right side of his face. For those unfamiliar with mat burn, it’s like rugburn only with less skin left at the site of injury. It is like, “Here, let me scrape off sections of your face with this dull razor.” While the wounds need to air-out, they are vulnerable to infection.
Negligence
Carson was understandably reluctant to apply COMPEL because the alcohol in the formula burns when the skin is raw. I reminded him to wash with antibacterial soap until his skin had healed enough to apply COMPEL without pain. A couple days later when I examined his chin and ear, I exclaimed, “It is infected! It looks like impetigo! Have you been washing your face and applying COMPEL?” He became defensive and indignant insisting that yes, he had been doing that. I didn’t believe him, sharing my doubts as to the accuracy (or at least the consistency) of his claims, and he stomped out of the room shouting something unintelligible (or at least something that my subconscious decided I did not need to hear).
Judge not…
Please don’t be too quick to judge. Either nod sympathetically or thank God that you have no idea what I’m talking about. Carson is 15 and has been bathing himself for several years now. The only time I am hypervigilant about his hygiene is during wrestling season. I will reluctantly admit that sometimes I look at my kids without really seeing them. Maybe I cannot tear my eyes away from the bedhead or the unmatched sweatshirt and sweatpants. Perhaps I am blinded by morning breath or the odor wafting from his or her t-shirt. (“Didn’t you wear that yesterday?”)
Either way, I let days go by before noticing that Carson had crusty patches over the sores. They were clearly not scabs that would indicate healing. They were dark yellow and the skin around them was red. I did a quick calculation and realized skin check for the tournament was two days away. Sometimes the “angry” and “extremely concerned” emotions are interpreted the same way by my face. Panic turned to accusation as I confronted him on how consistently he’d been following hygiene protocols at practice and at home…as if 17-years’ experience as a mom has led me to the belief that the accusation tactic works. Word to the wise: it doesn’t. Oh, and if you use the interrogation method, make sure your “how” questions are very specific and your “when” questions are time-sensitive.
Frustrated, I washed my hands of the situation (see what I did there?), told him to go wash up, apply COMPEL, and pray he could even practice that afternoon.
The day before the tournament, the athletic trainer thought that the sores looked suspect, so he passed him under condition that they would be significantly improved by the next day.
Judgement Day
I had packed lunches and extra snacks and begun the 45-minute drive to the tournament when I got the call from my husband, Chad, who was already at the school. I could hear the discouragement in his voice. “What’s wrong?”, I asked. Then I heard the words that shot fear, concern, anger, regret, disappointment, incredulity, sorrow, and indignation through my heart (must have been buckshot).
“Carson failed skin check.” He explained that the nurse and referee were uncertain about the diagnosis but failed him just to be on the safe side.
I wish I could say my first thought was for my son who was missing out on mat-time and the chance to compete or worry for his team because he’d let them down. Those concerns did, of course, cross my mind. But selfishly, I was embarrassed.
Here we were, his father and I, launching a skin care product that was getting great customer feedback and amazing scientific test results, and our own son fails a skin check! I felt like giving up. I had product samples to give to coaches, wrestlers, nurses, and athletic directors, but the last thing I wanted to do was show my face at that tournament. I pulled the car over and stewed for several minutes. (Okay, I cried. I told you I was going to be vulnerable. So dumb.) Then I prayed, remembering God’s promise to be with me, His challenge for me to “Run!” at the beginning of this journey, and knowing I had to keep going because we have a product that works…when it is used!
When I arrived at the tournament, I gave the nurse the sample of COMPEL and eagerly answered her questions. Carson came up to me, looked me in the eye and sincerely apologized. Caden appreciated the sandwiches and Chad was grateful for the thermos of coffee. Deep breath. It’s going to be okay.
Better Than Okay
His coach saw it. His athletic trainer saw it. His team manager saw it. His teammates saw it. A tournament referee saw it. The tournament nurse saw it. His dad and I saw it (and cringed). There is no denying the infection on Carson’s chin, cheek, and ear.
When we got home on Saturday, Chad and Carson sprang into action. They began a regimen of washing with antibacterial soap, applying COMPEL, three times the first day, three times the second and twice the third. In a 48-hour period, with just eight (8) applications, Carson returned to practice on Monday afternoon clear of infection with skin that was healing and no longer compromised. Everyone was amazed. God took a humiliating situation and turned it into a story that is so… compelling… that I can share it with you now. On Saturday I was asking God, “What are You doing? Why would You allow this to happen?” On Monday, it was as though He said, “This is what I’m doing. This is why.” That’s my God. He turns mistakes into testimonials. He gives beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61:3) He works all things for good and for His glory. (Romans 8:28)
On With the Ss
As in the ringworm blog, here are the Ss I will be summarizing for impetigo:
Source: what it is, where it comes from
Spread: how it functions and propagates
Setting: where it thrives
Symptoms: result of infection on skin; potential danger
Solution: what gets rid of it
Source: Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the skin caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and beta-hemolytic streptococci, more commonly known as staph and strep. There are two types, nonbullous and bullous impetigo. Nonbullous is caused by both staph and strep bacteria. Bullous is caused only by staph bacteria. Impetigo affects over three million Americans every year, usually infants and children.
Spread: Staph and strep both live harmlessly on the surface of healthy skin. Impetigo is highly contagious and can spread by direct contact with the skin or with inanimate objects that are likely to carry infection- clothing, towels, toys, athletic equipment, furniture, utensils, etc. Staph bacteria secretes a toxin that spreads impetigo to the surrounding skin. Impetigo caused by strep is contagious for around one to three days. Impetigo caused by staph is contagious for around four to ten days.
Setting: Impetigo takes advantage of traumatized skin caused by bites, scratches, and abrasions, lasting several days or weeks. As mentioned in Spread, the bacteria is usually already present on the skin. Warm, humid weather, crowded areas, and contact sports are risk factors for contracting impetigo.
Symptoms: When compromised skin like a scratch or bite is infected with nonbullous impetigo, pustules form then burst to scab over with yellow-honey crusts (that description just ruins honey for me) that darken. With bullous impetigo, a large blister containing clear yellow fluid forms. The blister is delicate and easily bursts leaving skin raw and red. Secondary infections may occur or recurring impetigo infections, but it is generally not serious and resolves within two weeks.
Solution: Nonprescription antibiotics on the market are generally not effective. Prescription topical ointments may be required, and widespread impetigo may require oral antibiotics. There has been more concern recently about resistant strains of bacterial such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and if it is suspected, a culture may be necessary. Good hygiene, including handwashing and application of COMPEL is an effective way to prevent the spread of impetigo. Avoiding contact with someone infected with impetigo and cleaning or washing items that are likely to carry infection is also recommended. (Sometimes I just want to write “duh” at the end of these highly academic suggestions.)
COMPEL is highly effective in moisturizing skin and keeping it healthy, lowering the risk of infection. Need more convincing? Try it for yourself!
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Whether the “trip” is seven or seventy minutes long, inevitably one of the kids will ask if they can be “DJ”. In our vehicle, the coveted DJ role involves picking songs for the whole family to enjoy (or complain about). Our children have their own unique gifts, but even as a parent, I can objectively say that disc jockeying is not one of them.
Caden is DJ Randy (short for random). Though his personal favorites are country western, he will play a variety of cross-genre, cross-generational music. His last stint as Bluetooth master went like this: Jackson 5, Michael Bublé, The Eagles, Roy Orbison, and Zach Williams.
Carson is DJ Jingle. He favors showtunes and parodies, even commercials. You have to watch him, though, he’s been known to slip an AFV or Try Not To Laugh videos in the middle of your jam. His playlist may look like this: Rhett and Link, Danny Gokey, Mulan (the illustrated version), Grease, and Weird Al Yankovic.
Lydia is DJ Belter. She likes powerful female vocals and country songs with plenty of twang. She also enjoys hip hop, soulful tunes with a touch of jazz, and classic ballads. Her tour of DJ duty usually includes artists like Lauren Daigle, Adele, Toby Mac, Blake Shelton, and Bon Jovi.
Regardless of the artist, popularity, or number of YouTube covers, they know to pick the “clean” version. With the Christian artists, there is no concern, but too many times they’ve heard a popular song on the radio only to play it for us on YouTube then scramble to turn it down when an f-bomb is dropped or suddenly a lyric’s inappropriate innuendo is understood. Inevitably, the vehicular audience interjects with a chorus of, “That’s not the clean version!”
True Clean
DJ disasters aside, what is does “clean” really mean? As a dictionary nerd, (yes, I subscribe to “Word of the Day”), one of my favorite resources, dictionary.com, says, “free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained” and “free from extraneous matter.”
Lately, “cleaning” means much more than removing dust or debris. We want to be proactive against germs that can cause illness. That’s why we buy products that “sanitize,” “disinfect,” “deodorize,” and “kill germs”. A search for “cleaning products” on my browser reveals several categories: all natural, safe, best household, homemade, environmentally friendly, industrial, and the list goes on. With so many choices, it’s enough to make a person decidophobic. Too often, cleaning products only leave me with more questions (which may be a decidophobiac’s coping mechanism). Is it enough to just clean surfaces or should they be sanitized? Disinfected? What’s the difference? What makes a surface “safe,” and how long does it stay that way?
In developing a cleanser that works on both skin and surfaces, I’ve done a lot of research on the chemistry behind true clean. I decided to ditch my brand loyalty (I still love you, blue Dawn dishwashing liquid!) and get down to the nitty gritty of cleaning products, focusing on two components: surfactants and solvents. I’ll skip the chemistry lecture and summarize.
Surfactants lower the surface tension of liquids, allowing them to spread out and remove dirt and grime. Ingredients that stabilize cleaning formulas and dissolve soils are known as solvents. In the COMPEL formula, Lauramine oxide is our surfactant and Ethyl alcohol is the solvent.
Neutral pH Clean
An oft-overlooked factor that may be as important as the ingredients, especially when a cleaning product claims to be “safe,” is the pH of a product. The pH is a solution’s level of acidity or alkalinity on a logarithmic scale (1-14). Both acidic (0-7) and alkaline (7-14) can be corrosive, especially as the pH moves farther from seven. There are many benefits to cleaners that are neutral, or seven, pH.
While most cleaning products won’t tell you the pH, read the label. If it advises you to wash your hands with soap and water after use, or requires rinsing before direct contact with skin, it is not likely to be pH neutral. Remember, those products are only effective if used according to directions.
Safe and Effective Clean
The COMPEL Skin & Surface formula’s pH is in the 6-7 range making it safe for skin and effective enough for surfaces. When skin is free from dirt and contaminants, when germs that may cause infection are removed from surfaces, and when both are healthier after applying the product, that is what I consider clean.
Not many disinfectants can say they were developed first as a skin cleanser, one that nourishes skin and works with the body’s natural barrier. Not many skin cleansers can say they gently, yet effectively clean a variety of surfaces including wood, plastic, Formica, vinyl, glass, and fabrics. Our efficacy testing goes beyond FDA and EPA standards with swabs taken immediately after applying COMPEL, 24-48 hours post application, and even ONE WEEK after application. I have yet to see that kind of research on any other product on the market but COMPEL is anything but another cleaner on the market. It is a solution to the serious, on-going problem of cleanliness and hygiene. It is the definition of clean in a world that is struggling to find relief; to feel protected.
Whether sanitizing skin or surfaces, dealing with dirt or DJs, COMPEL is the true “clean version.”
For more information on COMPEL, visit getcompel.com/pages/the-science.
For more information on neutral pH, visit The Chemistry of Cleaning (cmmonline.com)
For more information on what it means to be truly clean, visit Psalm 51 NIV - Psalm 51 - For the director of music. A - Bible Gateway
]]>a common, fungal infection caused by dermatophytes. A dermatophyte is a type of fungus that lives in the upper layer of skin and feeds on the keratin in skin and hair. Ringworm is just one of many infections caused by dermatophytes. Other examples include athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) and even fungal nail infections (tinea unguium or onychomycosis).
In this blog, I am going to focus on tinea corporis gladiatorum, or ringworm found on the body, especially and most commonly with wrestlers. The medical name for ringworm is in Latin, but you know a skin condition is widespread and long-standing when it’s named after gladiators!
In this overview, I’ll hit on the five Ss:
Source: what it is, where it comes from
Spread: how it functions and propagates
Setting: where it thrives
Symptoms: result of infection on skin; potential danger
Solution: what gets rid of it
First, ringworm is not a worm! A raised ring-like border of an infection is what led early sufferers to believe it was caused by worms. The name carried through even into the scientific name, tinea, meaning worm.
The dermatophytes that cause the condition are found in soil, on our pets and farm animals, and especially other humans. Right now, 1 in 5 Americans is affected by a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, or dermatophytosis. That’s right. Take a look around…maybe even in the mirror!
Oh my goodness, this stuff is tough to contain! Direct skin to skin contact is the most common in contact sports like wrestling, lacrosse, football, rugby, soccer, and basketball. Ringworm is highly contagious. Our beloved pets, primarily dogs and cats, are willing to share with their humans and farm animals, especially those exposed to warm, moist soil are vulnerable to infection. Dermatophytes reproduce like other common fungi (mushrooms!), through spores.
Yeah, yeah, warm, moist places- you got it the first time I said it in Source and the second time I said it in Spread, but listen! Fungal spores can cling to common objects like combs and brushes, stuffed animals, bedding, clothing, shoes and athletic bags, gear and equipment… for months. Those microscopic guys can even live for years on a shed strand of hair waiting for that perfect environment. They thrive in tight-fitting clothes with poor ventilation, wrestlers, so your singlets are a prime target.
Ringworm spores are unable to penetrate healthy skin but given access to mucus membranes or even microscopic scrapes and abrasions, you can bet that they will capitalize on the opportunity. Young children and people with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable. An infection generally starts out as a red, itchy spot. Untreated, it becomes scaly, forming layers called plaques. The outer border may form a ring that is raised and appears slightly darker red than the center. While ringworm is so prevalent that it may seem commonplace, it is best to treat it topically as soon as fungal infection is suspected. Rarely, a superficial fungal infection can enter the body through cuts or wounds, causing more serious diseases.
As mentioned above, a topical antifungal is important, as is applying it according to directions and paying close attention to how the infection is progressing. Treating consistently and keeping the site clean and dry is imperative. Why? Several types of dermatophytes have become resistant to topical treatment, forcing those who suffer from chronic infections to take prescription medications so strong that blood tests are required to monitor potential liver damage. Often, the medication will remedy the situation only to be again required when the infection resurfaces in a couple weeks. The oral medicine is expensive and commonly prescribed along with topical solutions, increasing the cost.
Yes! Every single one of us was born with it. Surprise! Your birthday suit is a suit of armor! Keeping skin clean, healthy, and dry yet moisturized can be tough. That’s why we developed COMPEL. Our formula has protective moisturizers that help skin do its job. Moisturized doesn’t mean damp. It involves staying hydrated so that the lower layers of your skin have enough moisture for the upper layers to draw upon. You don't have live in fear awaiting a dreaded fungal infection. Be proactive by using COMPEL daily on exposed skin.
Wash your body and personal items. It seems simple because it is. You just need to know what true clean entails. Keep your skin clean and healthy with COMPEL and be aware of situations in which you may encounter dermatophytes. Microbes can survive wash cycles and even thrive in washing machines. COMPEL is proven effective on a variety of surfaces from athletic equipment to fabrics, helping you keep your clothing and personal items truly clean.
It only took a couple dozen centuries, but with COMPEL, you can be a gladiator who triumphs over dermatophytes.
]]>As far as monsters go, I used to think that zombies were one of the least likely to exist. Then my teenagers got mobile devices. Ha! I’m kidding, but they do act like those phones have taken over (eaten!) their brains!
I’m a nature and science nerd, so I geek out on video series like Life and Planet Earth. I would go so far as to suggest that David Attenborough create a sleep app where he reads stories or just talks about the hunting tactics of cheetahs. I digress. I also might have been nodding off.
It was on a Planet Earth episode that I learned about zombie ants, or rather, the cordyceps parasitic fungus that infects the ant’s brain, causing them to climb a tree to an ideal height and clamp down on a leaf or branch so that the fungus can sprout from the body of the ant which was first transportation and now fertilization. Think that’s scary? There are thousands of different types of cordyceps fungi and each specializes in a species of insect- moths, grasshoppers, beetles, stick bugs, even the radiation-resistant cockroach falls prey to the mind-control of cordyceps.
There are times, however, when a zombie effect can be a force for good. No, I am NOT talking about social media! I am referring to the antibacterial activity of bacteria that is killed by chlorhexidine, also known as the Zombie Cell Effect. I recently read an article published by the American Chemical Society (ACS Omega) found on the National Institute of Health (NIH) National Library of Medicine site. The study details the “biocidal zombie effect of chlorhexidine, a wide-scope biocidal agent commonly used in disinfectant and antiseptic formulations. The zombie effect refers to the ability of dead bacteria killed by a biocidal agent to act as efficient biocidal agents toward a new generation of viable bacteria. The killed bacteria serve as a reservoir for the antibacterial agent incorporated within them; and the new viable population of bacteria acts as a trap of the bioactive agent, shifting the equilibrium of this agent between the reservoir in the dead cells and their aqueous environment.”
In case your eyes glazed over at the word “formulations,” they’re reporting that chlorhexidine can take the bacterial cells it just killed and insert its germ-killing information into the dead cells causing them to turn on their bacterial brothers.
This zombie effect extends “to both Gram-negative—Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1—and Gram positive—Staphylococcus aureus—representative bacteria; showing that the zombie effect is maintained in the second and third generations; showing the effect to operate in an environment of growth media, which extends it to life-supporting environments; and proving that cross-killing is possible, that is, killed S. aureus cells fully inactivated viable P. aeruginosa.”
If you’re yawning again, this scholarly report is saying that chlorhexidine can make pathogen-killing zombies out of both bacteria that can cause lung infections, swimmer’s ear, and skin infections from pools and hot tubs, and staph infections which can cause common sinusitis or become as serious as MRSA. If growth conditions are good, this effect can continue with zombies spawning more zombies. It’s reminiscent of an epic battle where the bad guys become good guys and begin fighting against the bad guys in the middle of the battle. Then those new good guys convert more good guys again and again. What an incredible way to fight a pathogen!
This Zombie Effect spawns more hope than fear! It just so happens chlorhexidine also has antifungal properties. Maybe now I can watch the cordyceps episode again without the nightmares.
]]>The CDC defines substantivity as “an attribute of certain active ingredients that adhere to the stratum corneum (i.e., remain on the skin after rinsing or drying) to provide an inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria remaining on the skin.” An antiseptic cleanser with substantivity is similar to the way sunscreen protects your skin from UV rays for an extended amount of time.
Now why would you need an antiseptic cleanser to stay on your skin? In fact, why do you need an antiseptic at all if you can just wash your hands? There are a couple reasons and more than a few situations.
Washing your hands with soap and water only kills or cleans what is on the surface of your skin and hand sanitizer only kills germs or inhibits antimicrobial growth for a short period of time.
This does not protect you from the grocery cart you just struggled to separate from the mob of carts at the entrance to the store. Not to worry, there are “sanitizing wipes” available so you wipe down all of the areas you might come into contact with and toss the wipe into the trash. Was the surface you disinfected wet for at least 15 seconds? Or is that rule just for hands? It smells awful. Are the wipes even safe for skin?
You don’t have time to worry about it. You glance at your list and head down the aisle. Oh, good! Your kids’ favorite cereal is in stock. You re-apply hand sanitizer because touching things is beginning to make you paranoid. Little do you know there’s snot on the box of cereal you choose-an invisible smear from the toddler crying and begging his mom for it moments ago. Ironically, it wasn’t a “healthy” cereal, so his mother placed it back on the shelf. You place the box of cereal in your cart and your phone buzzes in your pocket. You swipe the screen to answer your phone, pressing the screen you just touched to your face.
The middle-aged man an aisle over just sneezed but thankfully he was wearing a mask! He reaches up to adjust his mask (handy tissue that it is) and reaches down with the same hand to select a jar of green olives. He grimaces, puts that jar down and chooses the black olives. Moments later, you choose the green olives, place them in your cart and adjust your own mask.
Maybe this situation doesn’t apply to you. You make your selections from the fresh produce section. Did you verify that the stock person was wearing gloves? Yes, quell the panic. But was the handle of her re-stocking cart clean?
That does it. All this “contact” is making you crazy. You begin ordering “contact-free” groceries and have items delivered to your vehicle, all of which is produced, packaged, sorted, stacked, crated, loaded, delivered, unloaded, stocked, selected, scanned, bagged, and placed in your trunk by countless people.
I am sure they all washed their hands. And the forklift. And the pallet and the truck and the dock and the shelves and the carts and the bags. Oh, and your trunk. Better grab the wipes. Wait. Did you wash your hands before you grabbed the container last time?
Germs are everywhere. They always have been. When there is a threat that is unfamiliar or uncontrollable, it is scary. The irony of it all is that often it is the familiar that goes unnoticed, and the common that can quietly do the most damage. Each time you carefully applied hand sanitizer, it did its job, killing most of the germs on your hands. But it stopped working the second it dried. It did not protect you from the next item you touched. It did not moisturize your skin, maintaining that critical barrier. It did not keep the germs on your phone from transferring to your face. It's like using a sunscreen you have to reapply every fifteen seconds.
Some situations call for substantivity that ensures your skin is protected and armed with sustained antimicrobial activity. Sometimes you just need the assurance that what you’re doing to protect yourself and your family is actually working.
It’s times like these you need the clean confidence of COMPEL.
Each of our three kids are involved in multiple sports throughout the year. One day, after football practice, I asked our two boys (sophomore and junior), “What percentage of the game do you think is mental versus physical?” They answered immediately with one saying 90 percent and the other 95 percent. (Technically, they are both right. The mental aspect is also personal, meaning, if that’s what they think, then that’s how each individual’s mind will interpret the game.)
As athletes train physically, the discipline of the mind is a major contributing factor to their athletic ability. Persistence as a character trait is defined as “perseverance especially in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement; to endure tenaciously.” We love stories of athletes who persevere through physical trials, emotional trauma, or situational tragedy because as humans, we are designed to overcome obstacles, to succeed despite setbacks, to win. Persistence is a trait that is ingrained in our spirit, that we feel in our bones, and one that is demonstrated even on a microbial level!
To read more about how Tricia and Chad's kids inspired the search for a long-lasting solution, click here.
Persistence is particularly important in the fight against germs. The CDC defines persistent activity as “prolonged or extended antimicrobial activity that prevents or inhibits the proliferation or survival of microorganisms after application of the product.” This quality also has been referred to as ‘residual activity.’” Residual activity is a characteristic of ingredients that have substantivity. According to the CDC, substantivity is evidenced on the skin when an ingredient adheres to the stratum corneum, and even after drying, continues to inhibit the growth of bacteria. Cleansers and personal care products like COMPEL utilize ingredients like chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) in water-based formulas because it inhibits bacterial, fungal, and viral growth for long periods of time.
To read more about our ingredients and their persistence, as well as CDC's recommendations regarding hand hygiene, click here.
As I research the fascinating attribute of antimicrobial persistence, I can’t help but recall the conversation with our boys about athletics and apply it to life in general. One of my trainers says (yells), “The workout doesn’t even start until you’re tired! Improvement doesn’t begin until you work through the pain!”
Persistence is a character trait that, when practiced like a skill and exercised like a muscle, can be applied to every aspect of life. Whether you’re overcoming an opponent, defeating disappointment, or battling bacteria, victory only comes to those who endure tenaciously!
Hebrews 12: 1-3
Chad and I embarked on quite an adventure at the end of March, beginning of April 2020. Developing a product is difficult and bringing it to market is a roller coaster, but even I am surprised at how my vocabulary has changed. I have never in my life used so many eff-words.
Chad and I put great effort into designing a formula. Ours was an earnest, strenuous attempt to discover the correct ratios and combinations of moisturizers to bring about the desired effect. What is that effect? Maintaining the skin barrier function, which guards against germs that may cause infection.
Is COMPEL effective? We knew that the ingredients we chose were adequate to accomplish a purpose on their own or in other cosmetic or personal care products. But the combination of ingredients (aka chemistry) must be effectual, that is, all must work well together to produce the intended effect. If the ratios aren’t perfect, the ingredients will effectually break, or to all practical purposes, fall out of solution.
Research, trial and error and Providence allowed us to manufacture a product that works as intended…and then some! We put our formula through the ringer! Literally. The entire Ringer (and Powell!) family tried a variety of formulas. When Chad and I would create a version we liked, we’d ask research scientist and microbiologist, Dan Briere, MA to test it on skin. The agar plates (petri dishes) tell the story. See proven results here!
Once our efficacy testing determined that COMPEL was producing the intended effect of cleaning and moisturizing hands, we began testing surfaces like computer keyboards, game controllers, refrigerator handles, effectively enough high-touch surfaces to adequately accomplish the purpose of testing.
Is COMPEL efficient? For a new product to be a hit, it must be quick and easy to use while performing in the best possible manner. We packaged the formula in a variety of sizes with each one intentionally filling a need. The 10ml is small enough to fit in a pocket, wallet purse or small compartment. The 30ml fits nicely in a purse or center console of a vehicle. The 100ml is sized just right for traveling and sits neatly on a desk. The 250ml with a pump is our “share” size and is perfect for table or countertop. Our family keeps a bottle in the kitchen to apply right before running out the door. I can tell you this process is efficient, providing the least waste of time and effort! Buying in bulk “packs” also saves money and our industrial gallon allows for an economical refill of each of those convenient sizes.
Is COMPEL cost-effective? This question, in the minds of many, translates to “Is it expensive?” “Expensive” is a subjective term and does not answer the question which seeks to determine whether a product produces optimum results for the expenditure.
COMPEL saves time by applying only twice per day in comparison to applying hand sanitizer and washing hands multiple times per day. It helps customers avoid dry, itchy skin reducing the need for lotion. On surfaces, the long-lasting function of COMPEL ensures that one application is efficacious, or capable of having the desired protective effect. It is safe, consisting of six simple ingredients, each of which is “resolved” or recognized by the FDA through the VRCP Program.
While COMPEL has cleaned up everything but my language, I hope you’ll agree with my effable, or expressible interjection: a safe cleanser that is effective and efficient? Now that’s an eff-bomb!
]]>Do you know what condition affects over 2.8 million people in the US, and kills more than 35,000 every year? It’s the body's response to a serious infection, a.k.a. sepsis. Sepsis occurs when the bacterial or fungal infection affecting one part of the body makes it into the bloodstream and spread throughout. While bloodborne bacteria and fungi are dangerous, the statistic mentioned above is even unnerving because those 2.8 million infections are antibiotic-resistant strands.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when a bacterial or fungal strand undergoes a genetic change or receives resistant information causing the medicine to no longer be effective against the bacteria or fungi that it was designed to kill. To date, the CDC reports 18 antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi (report does not list viruses or parasites). Resistance to medicines can happen rather quickly. Penicillin, for example, was released in 1941, but a penicillin-resistant strand of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) was identified as early as 1942. Azithromycin enjoyed over 30 years of bacterial dominance before Azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae was identified in 2007. Scientists are finding that the few antibiotics developed in the last decade encountered even faster resistance. Rather than years of effectiveness, in 2015, a strand of Klebsiella pneumoniae developed resistance to a new antibiotic almost overnight.
If the CDC concludes that up to 80% of germs are transmitted via hands, it only makes sense that the most effective way to avoid the occurrence of bacteria, viruses, or fungi entering your bloodstream is to reduce the risk while it is still on the skin. In topical applications, alcohol, (at concentrations of at least 60%) is effective against antibiotic-resistant strands such as MRSA, MRSE, and VRE. And talk about a proven track record: chlorhexidine is still effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, even with over 60 years of use in the healthcare, veterinary science, dental and cosmetic industries.
At the microbial level of skin and surfaces, alcohol and chlorhexidine can annihilate the vast majority of threats within seconds. This combo is literally killin' it.
It is up to us, fellow humans, to practice antibiotic stewardship. We should know our risks and take care of ourselves if we have a chronic illness. Let’s wash our hands, stay up to date on vaccines and be vigilant about signs and symptoms of infection. We should use antibiotics only when needed and for the duration of the prescription. We can protect ourselves by checking for health alerts when traveling abroad and do I even need to mention STDs? Let’s use common sense around our pets and practice safe preparation and storage of our food. And, seriously, we should keep our hands clean.
Our body is teeming with bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Most of the time it functions as a happy little petri dish, with maybe some organisms benefitting more than others. The skin barrier does a fantastic job of protecting our vital organs from pathogenic microbes. But when dry air and well, frequent handwashing, compromises that protective layer, when 80% of those unseen threats could be bumming a ride under your fingernails, and when we are one cut, scratch, or scrape away from a microbial nightmare, eliminating the threat on the surface by using a hand cleanser that provides long-lasting, moisturizing protection seems like a pretty safe and simple option.
]]>In the realm of superheroes, there is the back story that explains how the hero came to be, how he or she received their power(s), what their purpose is in life. This is known as the origin story.
Chlorhexidine was discovered around 1950 by Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited. Scientists in the UK were working with anti-malarial agents and discovered an organic compound that, today, is on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines. This is basically a list of our world’s superheroes to date. Our friend chlorhexidine has a long and varied history. Its accomplishments have been made under the radar of the general public but the more I learn about it, the bigger fan I become.
In the early 1950s, chlorhexidine was introduced in the UK as a disinfectant and antiseptic. It quickly became the Superman of antibacterial agents because it is a chlorine that is safe for use on human and animal tissue. While the agricultural industry adapted it to sanitization practices as early as 1955, it took another fifteen years to be accepted in the US healthcare industry. Even then, it was underestimated; regarded as a mild-mannered Clark Kent or a neighborly Peter Parker. Its immigration here parallels my own fascination with supers. I was a fan of The Amazing Spiderman (insert web slinging sound effect here) in the late 70s when chlorhexidine was first used as an oral agent to combat plaque.
In the early 80s, I was enthralled by the Bionic Woman (insert bionic sound effect here) while the FDA approved a urology lubricant with chlorhexidine. (Not sorry I was oblivious to that one.)
By the late 80’s, something amazing happened, and I’m not just talking about Transformers.
If you, as I, believe that the combination of a vehicle and an alien life force dedicated to protecting humans is inspiring, wait until I tell you about chlorhexidine combined with alcohol. There is more than meets the eye. You see, (heh heh), alcohol is a quick-kill (within 15 seconds) that stops working when it dries. Chlorhexidine not only takes up the battle but is even able to destroy some of the microorganisms that alcohol wasn’t able to handle, often within 30 seconds. That might be the only reason they never created a cartoon superhero based upon antimicrobials. The battles don’t last long, and you always know who wins. Wait. That’s every cartoon superhero!
Chlorhexidine and alcohol combine to produce a “synergistic residual antimicrobial effect,”1 which is fun to say when talking to medical professionals. Try it sometime. But when we’re just hanging out, you and I can call it the dynamic duo. Speaking of the dynamic duo, by the time Batman: The Animated Series hit television screens in the early to mid-90s, chlorhexidine was being used in FDA-approved catheters and surgical dressings, and I had (temporarily) outgrown cartoons.
What makes chlorhexidine so special is that it is effective against bacteria (and bacterial spores), fungi, and enveloped viruses (herpes simplex virus, HIV, influenza, and RSV for example). It even prevents the growth of biofilm. Chlorhexidine has the unique ability (superpower) to bind to the proteins in human skin and mucous membranes but manages to avoid bodily absorption. It is encased in a protein shield which causes it to be released slowly for prolonged antimicrobial action. It is just as effective on surfaces, killing more microorganisms more quickly than other antimicrobials, which is why it is applied as a disinfectant to medical devices, food preparation tables, feed and water troughs, and a number of other applications that require sanitization.
Add shapeshifting to chlorhexidine’s super abilities. It can be used as a powder or in a liquid solution and is commonly found in chlorhexidine gluconate or digluconate form.
Even chlorhexidine has a weakness. As effective as it can be in surgical scrubs and healthcare washes, its ability to fight off germs is inactivated by carbomers, which can be found in alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Look on the label under “inactive ingredients.” A carbomer is a polymer usually made from acrylic acid and is used as thickening agent transforming a liquid like ethyl alcohol into a gel. (Hold on a minute. Have you been reading this like “car-bomber?” Stop. It’s pronounced cárbo-muhr. Ok. Proceed.) The irony here is that while carbomers rob chlorhexidine of its persistent antimicrobial activity, the gel hand sanitizer still stops killing germs when it dries. I’m pretty sure that makes gel hand sanitizers with carbomer a Super-Menace, or maybe a Bizarro for those of you who are tracking with the whole superhero theme I have going on here.
Also, there is an allergy alert released by the FDA that warns of anaphylactic shock concerns. Though rare, this serious, life-threatening reaction is usually first demonstrated by the appearance of redness or rash, at which point the use of chlorhexidine should be avoided. The FDA stated in 2017 that in over 46 years, there have been 43 severe reaction cases reported globally. That is less than one case per year for the entire world. Also, the number of times the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles didn’t want pizza for dinner.
Chlorhexidine has protected human and animal life on this planet (and maybe even Cybertron) for over seventy years and in a variety of industries including agriculture, veterinary science, healthcare, dentistry, and cosmetics.
Finally, chlorhexidine has been chosen to join an extraordinary team of ingredients in a cleanser called COMPEL. It functions as a preservative that inhibits the growth of microorganisms in the water that makes up the COMPEL formula. Its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties empower the COMPEL formula to help humans maintain a healthy skin barrier. As a first line of defense, the skin barrier is this mere mortal’s superpower. COMPEL has proven to be its faithful sidekick.
To be fair, I still enjoy cartoons, I mean, animated movies. I still revel in epic battles of good versus evil. I still get goosebumps when I hear the voice of Optimus Prime. But Jesus is and always will be my Superhero, my Creator, Redeemer, Defender. He paid the ultimate price to free us. He’s the only One with the power to rescue us. His salvation is the truth to which all heroes aspire. Let me encourage you to examine His origin story and see if He doesn’t become your favorite as well.
]]>I’ve had my eye on you, but you only have ears for me.
Let’s meet up somewhere romantic, like a local distillery.
I just know that this is the beginning of a long, spirited history.
We’ve already made a connection… some would call it chemistry.
Things might get a little steamy, and don’t take offense to this, please,
but if we’re truly going to make this work, we’ll need to change… chemically.
All will gather to celebrate our bond before things get too heated.
We’ll face the future hand in hand, no social distancing needed.
Ours is the perfect union, and the timing just makes sense.
This special formula is bound to succeed, not by luck, but Providence.
Love,
COMPEL
There are many types and grades of alcohol and the uses are almost as numerous. We intentionally sourced USDA Food-Grade ethyl alcohol rather than cosmetic or lab grade because it has fewer impurities and is highly effective. In 1994, the FDA classified ethanol 60% --95% as a Category 1 agent, meaning it is generally regarded as safe and effective (GRAS) for use in antiseptic hand wash products due it its rapid germicidal properties.
Isopropyl has a very strong odor and is toxic when ingested. It is derived from propene (not propane) gas which comes from fossil fuels. Isopropyl is great for use as a household or industrial cleaner and perfect for removing that sticky residue from glue or tape, but we certainly didn’t want to use it often on our skin.
But Ethyl. Oh, Ethyl. It’s just perfect for our formula. It is derived from corn and the ethyl we source is made from 100% Indiana corn. The natural scent is sweet and dissipates as it dries. For those concerned about ingestion (I was!), rest assured that no matter how sweet dear Ethyl smells and no matter how much flavor the distilleries add, her role in the COMPEL formula is exceedingly bitter and unpalatable.*
While you may not care for alcohol enough to write a poem, Ethyl is the basis of our formula and a pretty compelling reason to be a little…corny.
*COMPEL is not sold, nor labeled, nor used, nor recommended, nor intended for consumption. Do NOT taste, drink, inhale, or in any manner under any circumstance ingest the COMPEL product. Just don’t.
]]>Your skin tells so much about you: your hydration level, whether or not you use sunscreen regularly, even your age. Your skin's appearance, however, can be deceiving. Dry skin resulting from lack of hydration, frequent hand washing and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer or harsh chemicals can make your skin look old and unhealthy. Dry, itchy skin can compromise your the natural protective barrier, possibly putting you at a higher risk for skin infections.
There are three types of moisturizers that help to maintain healthy skin hydration:
We're going to explore emollients in this segment. Please see "Keratin: Why We Should Care a Ton" for more information about your skin, and "Humectants: A Friend to Your Skin" to learn more about humectants.
Emollient means "soothing especially to the skin or mucous membrane," according to Merriam-Webster. That sounds like a tissue commercial! The Latin root, emollire, means to soften and is where we get the word "mollify," or "to soothe in temper or disposition." Don't we all wish moisturizers could do that, too?
Emollients can soothe and heal dry skin even when caused my conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, and eczema. They are used often to treat diaper rash and even chemical burns from radiation treatments.
There are many types of emollients, of course, but only "esters" play well with alcohol because they are actually derived from alcohol. If you want an alcohol-based hand cleanser for the antiseptic attributes, but also want to keep your hands from drying out, make sure it contains ester emollients.
The formulators of COMPEL chose an ester emollient naturally derived from coconuts that leaves hands looking smooth and feeling soft but without a greasy residue. But, hey! Let's not get so caught up in shallow feelings and appearances! The beauty of the formula (see what I did there?) is how the emollient partners with the humectant to maintain the health of your skin. The ingredients in COMPEL work and play well together, offering the antiseptic power of alcohol and the gentle healing of moisturizers.
Don't worry! You won't smell like you just came from the beach (or the Tiki Bar!). The emollient does not have a coconut scent. In fact, COMPEL's formula is fragrance free allowing your skin to enjoy the feel without the flavor.
Just in case you're disappointed that this blog isn't actually about coconut smoothies, I've provided a link to a recipe here!
I (Tricia) formulated the base components in the COMPEL recipe, while my husband and co-formulator, Chad, did most of the research for the moisturizers. If I wanted to understand the source and use of the ingredients he chose, I had some catching up to do! Here's what I learned about humectants.
The job of any personal care skin product starts with the human body's largest organ: the skin! I know "skin-deep" sounds shallow, but trust me, it's more complicated than it seems.
The skin barrier is made up of layers upon layers, much like an onion, with, hopefully, a more pleasant scent. The top layer of skin is called the epidermis. Having sixth grade science flashbacks yet? The outermost layer of the epidermis is called the stratum corneum. It is made up of dead skin cells and a lipid layer and is usually 20 cell-layers thick! These components function like a brick wall with the dead skin cells acting as bricks and the lipid layer as the mortar.
This structure performs the tough, crucial jobs of regulating your body temperature and moisture level all while protecting the layers of skin underneath. When the stratum corneum is functioning properly, it should:
That's a pretty impressive resume!
The problem of dry skin occurs when even healthy practices, like washing your hands with soap and water, weaken that vital barrier. Genetics, hormonal changes, and environmental factors can also play a role. This is where moisturizers come in handy, humectants in particular.
Humectants pull moisture from the dermis (deeper skin layer) up to the stratus corneum. When humidity levels are greater than 50%, they also have the ability to draw water vapor from the air! Gluconolactone is naturally derived from corn, designated as safe by the FDA, and is COMPEL's humectant of choice.
Like any over-achiever, the stratum corneum sometimes needs help. It gets by with a little help from its friends. It just so happens that COMPEL is a great friend. Let’s put humectants to good use for your skin. Purchase your own bottle of COMPEL today!
There’s a lot more to COMPEL than just humectants. If you’re interested in learning more about COMPEL’s ingredients visit our science page.
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I remember learning in science class that our largest organ is skin. I even remember learning about a few layers and coloring and labeling a drawing. What I don't remember is learning how many layers there are, how each one has a specific purpose, and how important each function is to the health of our bodies!
Sorry, Mr. Milburn. I promise I only fell asleep once in science class, and that beaker of water you poured on my head woke me up right away, so I don't think I missed much.
The outermost layer of the skin, also called the epidermis, is the body's main barrier to the environment. When the stratus corneum is working to its full potential, it is our first line of defense against bacteria, toxins, and even dehydration. It offers protection to the layers below.
I've heard the stratus corneum described by dermatologists as a brick wall. The corneocytes are the bricks and the desmosomes are the mortar. Corneocytes, or building blocks, are composed of keratin, the protein found in our nails, hair, horns, hooves, feathers, calluses, and claws. I might have gotten a little carried away with non-human body parts, but everything listed is made from keratin, so it’s both relevant and fascinating! These corneocytes are short-lived and designed to shed at the rate of approximately a layer each day. For the stratum corneum, this is considered healthy. For those of us who dust the house, this is considered a losing battle.
The desmosomes, or mortar, are composed of lipids that form a barrier by filling in the spaces between the corneocytes. The barrier protects the layers below from toxins and bacteria. (Is the brick and mortar imagery becoming clearer now?)
Just when I'm beginning to appreciate the heroism of my very own stratus corneum and singing the song "Brickhouse" in my head (whether it applies to lesson or not), I learn that we practice a very good habit that poses one of the greatest threats: hand washing.
But hold on—don't go off on me just yet. Of course, we should wash our hands! Washing with soap and water removes harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can lead to infection. How many times have we heard that lately? So, when is something so good so bad? (Don't get me started on chocolate!) Soap contains surfactants that, along with getting rid of dirt and germs, weaken the barrier and allow loss of water through the skin. I never thought soap would be my hero's kryptonite. Never fear! Moisturizers are here!
There are three main types of moisturizers that act as perfect sidekicks:
I'm be going into more depth on those topics in later blogs, so can quench your thirst for more moisturizing knowledge (that might be funny later). For now, you can read more about the moisturizers and other ingredients that play an important role in the COMPEL formula.
If you want to experience these moisturizers for yourself, you can order your very own bottle of COMPEL!
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